Talking Illness And Injury With Maddy Nutt
Parcours Gravel Pro Maddy Nutt had a flying start to the year and was on a tear. Then illness struck. It’s the “I” word that no athlete likes, well there are two… Injury and Illness (and perhaps VO2 max efforts, but that doesn’t begin with an “I”and is more than one word!) It was great to see Maddy back on the start line a few weeks back and so we thought it was a great opportunity to catch up with her, and talk about the highs and lows of sport, how to manage illness and recovery, disruption to the season, but how to bounce back stronger!
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You had a great start to the year and headed to Africa, winning Safari Gravel and placing third just a few days later in Migration Gravel, followed by 2nd at Gravel Mexico. Everything was looking great…. Then what happened?
In all honesty, training in Rwanda before heading to Kenya for Safari and Migration gravel races, I was absolutely flying! I don’t think I have ever been at this level of fitness before or felt sensations like this on the bike. Unfortunately, when I was in Kenya I picked up a virus (almost definitely covid) and I had a fever after the Safari Gravel race on the night before the first stage of Migration Gravel Race, which was a 4 day stage race. I decided to race despite the fever, as I had put so many resources and so much preparation into the race, and I didn’t feel too unwell. By the fourth day of the race I was feeling very rough, and after the race I was shivering and very unwell, with a strange sense of smell and taste. Needing multiple layers in Africa is never a good sign for general health!
I then headed on to Mexico after getting over the virus. At the time I had a slight funny feeling in my chest and shortness of breath, but I put it down to general fatigue from racing at altitude rather than anything medical. Just over a week later and I was back racing again in Mexico, a 240km race through the desert. Halfway into the race I found my chest starting to ache in a way I have never experienced, which made me very concerned. I finished the race as I was in a podium position, but felt super unwell after. I had noticed in my heart rate data that my resting heart rate had been inflated since the virus, but again I had put this down to time at altitude rather than any concern. The next day I saw a cardiologist in Mexico and he diagnosed me with pericarditis, which is an inflammation in the lining around the heart, caused by intense exercise when a virus has got into your heart. The immediate prognosis was 3 weeks of no exercise whatsoever to allow the inflammation to subside, which is the last thing you want to hear part-way through your season!
What was going through your head at this time, with the diagnosis, and training or lack of?
I found this period of no training incredibly difficult. Training brings me a lot of happiness and purpose to each day, and for sure I struggled without it. I am naturally a super active person, so sitting on a couch for prolonged periods of time was super tough. I filled my time with other life admin and tasks that needed doing, but the uncertainty of when I’d be able to start training again weighed on me.
How did you keep yourself as upbeat as you can, when exercising makes you happy but you are unable to do this?
The main thing I used to cheer me up was little walks to coffee shops for somewhere else to sit. This change of environment gave me something to look forward to, and I also saw friends and family that I am typically less able to see around my busy training and racing schedule. I also naturally am a glass half full type of personality, so I didn’t spend too long moping before I was making fun out of small things at home. It also gave me a lot of time to put into my cooking, which is another hobby of mine.
How have you had to change or adapt the goals or outlook for the rest of the season (if you have)?
Initially I thought I would have to completely reconsider my season and goals, but my fitness has come back better than anticipated. I had to miss a big race in the US (SBT GRVL), which I was gutted to miss, but I am now targeting the October races to finish the season on a high.
How did that first ride back feel?
It felt pretty rubbish! Not exercising for 3 weeks then getting on a bike is one way to make any bike ride feel like a challenge! Although, I totally appreciated the joy of being back outside on two wheels, and it didn’t take long for riding to feel closer to normal again.
How did you build the training back up – volume? Intensity? Rest?
Carefully! I had a few medical people giving me really solid advice, as well as other cyclists reaching out who had been through the same. The big thing that everyone really put emphasis on was the importance of rest and really allowing my body to recover. After 3 weeks of absolute zilch, I slowly added in some riding and always below zone 2. After an all-clear from an echocardiogram with a cardiologist in the UK, I was allowed to increase this to zone 4 for the following 4 weeks, finally getting a complete all clear to raise my HR to its max last week.
Just a week or so ago, you were back on the start line at Raiders Gravel in Scotland and straight back on the podium – how did that feel?
I took my ‘all clear to go’ to the extreme. Four weeks earlier I’d been given the ‘all clear’ for four weeks time, so four weeks to the day, I was on the start line with a stage race! Mainly because I felt a stage race would be a good training block for me, as well as being a way to add intensity but slightly lower intensity as I had to pace myself over the three stages. I was super happy to end up 2nd at the end of the weekend, as I went into the race with no expectations, just keen to enjoy myself and put some good intensity and miles into my legs. I definitely felt that lack of upper end power on the second stage of the race when the day started with a tough climb, but my endurance has definitely fully returned.
Had you expected to be racing again so soon? Was Raiders always in the plan?
Raiders wasn’t in my recovery plan at all, as I had only done one ride where I had pushed my HR above threshold before that weekend. Despite this, I was feeling a lot more normal on the bike and my RHR had been stable for the past month, so I decided to take the opportunity to race Raiders. I was heading up to speak on a panel at the event anyways, so it made sense to also take part.
Are you still suffering or feeling any longer term effects?
I wouldn’t say I am suffering any effects now. Sometimes I have a slight wobble or panic about how my chest is feeling, but I think I have become super sensitive and hyper aware to any fatigue in my body. In a way this has been a great lesson in learning how to listen to my body and never push through any illness. The recurrence rate for pericarditis and myocarditis is very high, so I know to never take a risk and train with any virus in my system.
What are the plans for the rest of the year/season?
I have a few more races to tick off this season, and I actually think I am going to add an exciting race to my calendar at the end of the season to make up for missing out on SBT GRVL (tbc!). My main focus will be on the gravel earth series and world champs and doing myself proud at these races. I don’t doubt the level at Worlds will be insanely high with top world tour riders showing up, and I want to do my best to compete at this level, and show what I am capable of.
What advice can you give for someone going through an injury or illness?
My biggest piece of advice I take from an old coach when I suffered a bad crash a few years ago. She told me to take a piece of paper and to write down all the people I am unable to give enough time to typically because of my schedule, as well as all the things I miss because of cycling. Then to work through this list over the injury/illness period and reconnect with people.
Did you do a bakery or café tour on bikes recently? What was the winning baked good?
I have recently got a new book which is called ‘Britain’s Best Bakeries’. I love a personal challenge, so I have decided to tick off all the bakeries in the book through riding to them. (I also love a baked good!). Without a doubt my trip to Lannan in Edinburgh has so far been an absolute winner on the bakery mission. I had a date and butterscotch type knotted baked good that was topped with sea salt flakes. It was warm and honestly just melted in my mouth!
All the best for the rest of the season Maddy, we are now off to Lannan for some baked goods!
